Something relatively large for an insect and relatively
hard, like a beetle, smashed into my windshield a few days ago along Rt. 443 in
East Hanover Township, Dauphin County. The deceased left only a starburst of
white and green, smashed bug remains on the glass, but my cicada-prepped mind
turned immediately to the possibilities of having just encountered one of the
first of the 17-year periodical insects to emerge this time around.

Brood II of the 17-year periodical cicada is expected to emerge in the second half of May across the northeastern U.S., including part of Pennsylvania.The Associated Press, file

Millions of the insects in Brood II, also known as the East
Coast Brood, have started clawing their way upward from the spots six to 12
inches underground where they've lived since 1997, munching on tree roots, in
wooded spots from Virginia to Arkansas. In Pennsylvania, Brood II will emerge
in Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester,
Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery,
Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, and Wyoming Counties.

I stopped the Explorer, wheeled about and returned to the
scene of the collision. Camera ready to record the event to share with readers
here, I dropped to the roadside. But, nothing remained to be found of the
insect.

I inspected the grassy expanse along both sides of Rt. 443
for any signs of the insects, maybe some of the bugs themselves, or perhaps some
of the small holes from which they emerge every 17 years. Nothing.

Nearby trees also offered nothing. None of the insects,
which climb onto the trunks of trees after emerging from the soil and prepare
to begin their droning, buzzing song, had yet mounted the bark.

So, the honor of being the first to spot and report a cicada
in the coming emergence remains to be claimed. The emergence should begin as
soon as soil temperatures top 64 degrees Fahrenheit. That should come during
the latter half of May.

And, we are hoping to have one of the first reports of when the emergence
begins. To that end we need your help. When you spot your first cicada this
year, take a photo (with time and date stamp if possible), shoot a video, note
the time, date and location (as precise as possible). Then report your
discovery to me at mschneck@pennlive.com.